Why Norway is a great holiday destination
A country best known for its whole host of deep blue, sheer-sided fjords, this European country offers breathtaking activities, wonderful scenery, and many other vacation opportunities for a one memorable Norway holiday.
Norway is a country with only 4.8 million people. Ten percent of which is living in the capital Oslo and the rest scattered sporadically in towns. One popular city to visit in Norway is the historic Bergen.
The approximately 386,000 square kilometer Norway stretched from the Skagerrak in southern Denmark—the Norway and Denmark boundary—to northern part of Barrents Sea and the Russian border. Norway is mainly composed of mountains, forests, rivers, and lakes. As such, you may take your holiday in Norway either by ship, train or road – even during winter, spring, summer or fall.
You might probably know how famous Norway is for its remarkable fjords, which are deep water trenches. And why it is that remarkable? Imagine a vast stretch of water with its vibrant color that mirrors the sky. Picture the stretch of water that flows very calmly and peacefully. Along the stretch of water are phantom mountains very far away.
Do you imagine how great that is? Well, if you do, then you now believe how Norway’s fjords can be superbly stunning, not to mention fjords are actually trenches where the highest mounts and cliffs rise out of the sea, literally.
With such vast stretch of water, no wonder tourists spending their holiday in Norway commonly used ship to explore the beauty of the country. Ship nowadays is a comfortable and practical way of discovering the striking and intricate coastline. The Hurtigruten Norwegian coastal voyages may ring a bell. A well-known holiday adventure, it offers packages that explore the coastlines of both Norway and Sweden through its Great Nordic Odyssey holiday package.
But wait, halt your excitement. The Great Nordic Odyssey holiday package operates only during the months of January to April. This is for tourists to see the northern lights. The northern lights are another holiday tour Norway is again famous for.
If you are not so much interested with coastline tour (there probably be a few people of these types), there are other activities that you can do to spend your holiday in Norway. This country is blessed with magnificent glaciers, dense forests, expansive plains, and beautiful river valleys. Don’t worry for there are many packages available for this kind of adventure which allows you to ride on scenic railways.
There are some tips however that you may want to take note before beginning to plan your holiday trip in Norway. The months that will allow you to enjoy the country best are June, July, and August. During these months, weather is fairly fine with temperatures in the Bergen area averaging 14 degrees Centigrade.
Also, on these times of the year, wild flowers are at their bloom. You might want to check out wild Norway flowers. For bird watching lovers, May and end of July are the best months for you to take your holiday trip to Norway.
Why Spend A Norway Holiday Vacation?
Spending your holiday in Norway is one of the most luxurious trips one can ever have. This is because the experience would finally fulfill dreams for the ultimate nature getaway. For people who have not set foot in the country, a Norway holiday vacation is a perfect opportunity to relax because it can give you ease and comfort in exploring the areas of a place not all people know of.
Visiting and discovering Norway will definitely make your holiday vacation worthwhile. What makes your visit truly worthwhile is that you can experience nature’s wonders at their best. Norway has been considered as the best place to live in across the globe because it is filled with breath taking attractions and unique experiential opportunity. It is ideal for people with adventurous souls and for those who see ultimate romance, relaxation, cultural immersion, cruising the sea, or extreme eco-tourism escapade.
Indeed, the places in Norway including the capital Oslo and other cities including Tromsø, Trondheim, Bergen, and Stavanger will be an enchanting journey for your holiday vacation. Here, you can sizzle with excitement and adventure or you can just relax while enjoying such an untouched nature.
Enjoy nature at its best.
Norway draws people who are adventurous and nature lovers. Rich in rainforests that have no harmful animals or insects, the place offers a scared sanctuary to people who are into nature because they can enjoy serene contemplation without worrying about their safety. Nature lovers will also enjoy seeing different kinds of trees, plants and flowers, and enjoy various bodies of water like streams and waterfalls that are clean and very invigorating.
Aside from nature tripping, Norway also allows you to have the ultimate sporting events and activities. Known to offer a diversity of sports, a Norway holiday vacation will let you experience sports that involve the sea, the air and the land. Sporting activities include scuba diving, sky diving, badminton, beach volleyball, golf, surfing, cruising, and many more.
The place—during months of June to September, offers a fine weather that can make you enjoy water sports and activities, safari trips and cruises as well as visiting national museums and galleries. You will also enjoy the ultimate Norwegian dining that offers multiethnic culinary experience and shopping that will make you discover unique cultural and historical artifacts as well as cheap gift and souvenir items.
Aside from the breath taking sights, adventurous sports activities, unique dining and shopping experience in Norway, it is also becoming a popular romantic destination. More and more couples choose to spend their holiday vacation in Norway because they can go on nature camping without having to worry that the sites as crowded and cramped.
To ensure that you will have a good time while spending your Norway holiday vacation, make sure that you have prepared everything you need. It would be of great help to research about the place first before you book a flight to ensure that you will know where to go, activities that you can do, places that you should visit as well as how much do you need to prepare for the trip.
Where to Go When You are in Norway on a Holiday
Norway is a quiet and lush place in the Scandinavian part of the globe. Though the country does not have that many monuments and structures compared to Italy and France, it more than makes up for its verdant surroundings and fresh air. So instead of sightseeing, people on a Norway holiday usually do nature tripping, hiking and sports activities in Norway.
This however does not mean that Norway is without any sights for tourists to enjoy. It’s just that the tour will be more on the adventure-nature side as opposed to city walks that are often the fad with citified European countries.
Below are some of the sights that you can visit in Norway:
1. North Cape
This is perhaps Norway’s most popular attraction. Here you will find one of the most breathtaking sights in the world. The views of the cliffs are both enlivening and soothing to the senses. Of course, there is also the fact that you can claim to everybody in your town that you have been to the northern end of Europe. That will be quite an anecdote for your friends.
2. The Geirangerfjord
Mother nature has definitely endowed this part of the world with so much gifts. With its majestic waterfalls and cliffs, nothing can surpass the beauty of the Geirangerfjord. The area is actually quite popular with tourists. A visit to Norway is never complete without this in the itinerary. Besides sight seeing, you can also hike and follow a nature trail. Fishing and boating are also activities that tourists can enjoy.
3. Wharf from the 14th century
One of the sights to see in the country is the old Norwegian town of Bergen where a wharf from the 14th century is still standing. The area still has the centuries old Hanseatic buildings that your album from the Norway trip should not be without. Up until now, there are more than 50 buildings still standing in the area. The town has become a preservation triumph and is not a UNESCO World Heritage site.
4. Lillehammer
This is another area in Norway that attracts tons of visitors every year, mostly because of how it is so close to Lake Mjosa and also with its many offerings of outdoor activities. The area was in fact the venue for the Winter Olympics in 1994.
5. The town of Trondheim
Like the Bergen Wharf, the town of Trondheim also retained a lot of its historical buildings. Take advantage of the tours that are being offered in the area. It is a good way to visit the historical structures and at the same time learn about the history of the town. Don’t miss visiting what they call the Trondheim Torg, which is considered to be the world’s largest sundial.
With its beautiful mountains and lakes, Norway is a must-go destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers. Though it does not have the citified air of Paris or Rome, Norway is still one of the best place to go to when you are on a holiday.
What Your Oslo-Norway Itinerary Should Include
Norway may be known for its natural resources, ski jumps and nature trails but this does not mean that the country has no “citified” sights to offer. You can probably get your fill of these kinds of sights in Oslo, the largest city in Norway and also its capital. Oslo is the seat of the current monarchy and also the center of commerce and finances in the country. It is also home to some of the largest maritime companies in the world.
One of the places that you can visit in Oslo is the Vigeland Park, an 80 acre artistic masterpiece. This is the biggest and the most popular park in the country. The park is filled with more than 200 stone and granite sculptures, spread all over the park. What is surprisingly wonderful about the park is the fact that only one person created the sculptures, Gustav Vigeland, a famous Norwegian sculptor and artist.
The park is divided into several areas: The Main Gate, which was commissioned in the 1920s; the Bridge, where the sculptor “Angry Boy” can be found; the Children’s Playground, where all the sculptures depict children at play; the Fountain with its skeletons and children in the arms of giant trees; the Monolith Plateau which houses the Monolith totem; and the Wheel of Life, which is an 850 meter long sundial.
Another must-see is the Royal Palace where the current monarch, King Harald V is residing. The palace is actually open to public viewing since 2002. One attraction in the Royal Palace is the changing of the guards, which often happens from 1:30 to 2:10 in the afternoon. In the summer, the changing of the guards is even accompanied by a marching band.
Surrounding the Royal Palace is the Palace Park, which is actually a public park. The layout of the park was made by the same architect that designed the Royal Palace, Hans Ditlev Franciscus Linstow.
Also known as the Museum Peninsula, Bygdøy is a place that art lovers will definitely marvel at. It is where the Bygdøy Royal Estate can be found. This is the official summer residences of the King of Norway. The Oscarshall Castle can also be found here.
Bygdøy has within its jurisdiction several notable museums like the Kon-Tiki Museum, which featured the expeditions of Thor and the Viking Ship Museum, which has on display items from the Vikings, most notable of which is the . There is also the Norwegian Maritime Museum and the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History.
Besides museums, Bygdøy also has lush and sinful beaches where tourists can relax. In fact, the nudist beach can be found in this area. Tourists on a holiday in Norway can also visit the St. Hanshaugen Park, a park that sits on a high hill in Oslo. There is also the Toyen Park which is right beside the Munch Museum. The Toyen has a magnificent botanical gardens.
There are lots of other sights in Norway that you can visit when you are on a holiday. Go on and drink in the beauty and history of Oslo.
What to Pack in a Norway Holiday
One of the things I personally used to hate when taking an out of town vacation trip is packing. Before, often times I find myself mulling over each item carefully, spending more time than necessary. And despite my efforts of choosing the lightest possible clothes and limiting the number of things that I bring, I always find standing over my pack and trying to figure out how come it’s still above the baggage limits set by the airport.
But as you increase your travels you gain more experience in packing among other things. If you’re planning a Norway getaway, here are some tips on what to pack in a Norway holiday.
One way to know what things to bring is to research about your country destination. It helps to know when you will be arriving there, where exactly in Norway, when you will be leaving and what activities you want to participate in. Norway is a relatively peaceful country. It’s not crowded I tell you that. The population is not as large as other countries so can enjoy the scenery without bumping elbows with someone.
Crime rate in the country is low compared to other European countries. If you can have a travel and medical insurance that would be a good thing. Norway is a little expensive so bringing extra money with you is ideal. Although, you can use your credit cards in most restaurants and hotels, it won’t hurt if you bring cash around with you especially if you intend to go explore the small communities or fishing villages scattered all over the country.
If you intend to visit Norway during the summer it is best to be prepared. The beautiful forests, lakes and mountain paths offer a majestic nature view of Norway but they also give tourists mosquitoes and midges problem. So it is best to bring insect repellants with you. Be aware also that campfires are not allowed in many areas of Norway during summer so you might want to bring some equipment that will keep you warm during the nights if you intend to go camping in your summer trip.
Winter in Norway is long and cold. Temperatures can go as low as minus 25 degrees C and sometimes even below that. Not to mention the wind chill factor that you need to prepare for especially in mountain ranges. The weather in Norway can change very quickly so asking for weather forecasts from local experts would be a good idea before you head out to enjoy your activities for the day.
Essentially, what you should pack when you go to Norway are the right clothes. Since temperatures and weather can change drastically even during summer, it is best to pack some light clothes which you can add and remove as layers depending on the day’s weather. This is true even during the summer months.
A few a must suggestions are long trousers, long sleeved shirts, warm jumper, a waterproof coat and comfortable walking shoes. If winter holidays are your thing, then an overcoat, scarf, gloves and warm boots are things that you should never forget to bring. Waterproof pants and shoes would be good to bring if you are traveling to Norway in autumn and spring.
What to pack in a Norway holiday trip are essentially the right clothes, the essential toiletries, the needed documents (e.g. passports, visas, IDs, etc) and the right equipment that you need for the activities that you planned out like skiing or island hopping. Most of the extra things you can buy there.
What to Include in your Norway Holiday Itinerary
There is a lot to see in Norway but one city that you should be concentrating in when you are on a holiday is Oslo. Oslo is actually the capital of Norway and its largest city. Today, it is home to some of the largest maritime companies in the world. And though Norway has had a reputation for being very expensive, there are a lot of things that you can do in the area for free. Here are some of them:
1. The Royal Palace
Built in the early part of the 19th century, the Royal Palace is the current home of Norway’s current monarch, King Harald V. Danish prince Carl, who was called Haakon VII was actually the first monarch to use the palace as his official residence. The palace was opened to the general public in 2002.
2. Changing of the Guards
One of the most fascinating things to see in Oslo is the Royal Palace. But more than the structure of the palatial compounds, visitors can also be treated to an attraction that has drawn thousands of visitors every year: the changing of the guards in the Royal Palace. This happens every half past one in the afternoon to about 10 past two. If you are there for the summer, you will even be in better luck since the changing of the guards will even feature a military band that will lead the guards into Oslo.
3. Park of Sculptures
Although the city has its share of museums, none can rival the Vigeland Park in Oslo where more than 200 granite statues and sculptures are on display, spread in huge park, about 80 acres in size. The sculptures were hand-crafted by one man, famous Norwegian sculptor and artist Gustav Vigeland. What is great about the park is that it is reachable by Tram. You won’t have to spend so much on transportation.
4. Slottsparken
This is also called the Palace Park, which is open for the public. It is located at the center of Oslo, surrounding the Royal Palace. It was built in the mid 19th century by Hans Ditlev Franciscus Linstow, who was also the architect who designed the palace itself. To date, more than 2000 greeneries were planted at the park. Like Vigeland, it is also reachable by tram.
5. Oslo Festivals
Although they are basically not tourist structures or places, the festivals in Oslo draw in a lot of merrymakers. One of the best festivals in Norway is the Constitution Day, where there will be processions and events for the public. This happens on May 17. Another is the Oslo Pride Festival, usually in June and the Northern Lights, which can be enjoyed during winter.
6. Ice Skating
Your tour of Oslo and your Norway Holiday will never be complete without a visit to the Ice Skating rinks in Oslo. This is for free during winter, so you don’t have to spend much for this tourist attraction, only a minimal fee for the renting of ice skates.
Walking Holiday in Norway
Most people look forward to spending their holidays out of the country. It is not a mystery really, especially if one has a very stressful job. All that stress can build up and erupt. So at some point you just want to leave it all behind, unwind and enjoy life with just you (or with you and your better half or with you and your family, whatever the case maybe) and your holiday destination.
Nowadays, there are a lot and I mean a lot of types of holiday vacations, each one bringing out a different experience. From a ship cruise to a hiking trip, from simple kayaking to a walking holiday in Norway, everything is just like a buffet of holiday destinations and tour packages. And nothing is more interesting than going a walking tour to Norway, the land of the midnight sun.
Walking tours are good ways to spend your vacation. You can enjoy the scenery, fresh air and get to see a whole new culture and participate in festivities as you explore Norway on foot. This is true not only in Norway. Each country is unique and travel agencies offer you selections of walking tours to choose from.
In Norway, what you will enjoy are the picturesque panoramas of snow capped mountains, fjords like the Western Fjords in Sognefjord which is long and deep and scattered small communities like farm and fishing villages filled with unspoiled beauty and rich in culture and history.
Hiking in the Norway wilderness is also one of your options. The forests are simply enchanting. Tourists will feel free to roam around Norway without being crowded due to the low population density of the country. This is totally unlike Hong Kong, New York or Tokyo where it is so crowded.
You can go on a winter holiday in Norway as well. In fact we recommend that you do. The country’s Rondane National Park for example is a great opportunity to try the popular snowshoeing activity which is being promoted by tour agencies.
What you will enjoy with this winter walking tour are the fresh snow surroundings, log cabins, the winter forest landscape, frozen lakes and the breathtaking views on top of the rolling hills.
If you want to enjoy an island adventure, Norway has a lot to offer as well. The Lofoten Islands for example has pristine beaches and have those quaint little fishing villages that I mentioned earlier. These villages embrace tourists and tour guides offer a whole package of natured based activities such as trips at sea or exploring the mountain routes of the island.
For a more unique and memorable experience, you can find traditional fisherman’s cabin called Rorbu to stay in during your time in the islands. Usually these cabins have a great view of the Atlantic coast and a great view of the midnight sun from May to mid July.
A walking holiday in Norway does not mean getting those packaged tours. You can set your own pace and explore the country on your own. In each destination in Norway, there are local guides that will help you choose the best route and will show you which places are interesting to go.
Visiting History when on a Norway Holiday
Norway may not be the usual destination for most tourists who go to Europe but it does provide people with one of the best sights in the world. But unlike Italy and France, which mostly attracts tourists that are more into city tours and shopping trips, visitors in Norway are more of the nature-tripping kind and those who are not on a holiday to rest and walk but to engage in different sporting activities.
Still, the country is not without a rich history. In fact, there are a lot of areas in the country that have been preserved until the present day. So those interested in history, whether in the past or in more recent times, will also enjoy in Norway.
Below are some of the areas and sights that tourists can visit in the country to get a taste of history.
1. Bryggen Wharf
One of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites, the old wharf in Bergen dates back to the 14th century. What is great about this area is the fact that the buildings that overlook the wharf are still standing and are well-preserved. The area was once part of the Hanseatic League’s trading empire, which lasted until the 16th century. The buildings were of course remodeled and rebuilt over the years but the main structure and design were preserved. The buildings are relics from the past, when wooden buildings were still the fad.
2 Lillehammer
The municipality of Lillehammer figured in history when the Birkebeiners traveled from the area to rena with Kind Haakon on skis. In the 17th century, the area had a lively market and is in fact one of the leading merchant towns. Now, the area is actually a very popular spot for skiing and is in fact the venue for the 1994 Winter Olympics.
3. Vigeland Sculpture Park
This is a must-see not only for those who are interested in history but also the art enthusiasts. The whole park, covering 80 acres, is filled with the masterpieces of Gustav Vigeland, who handcrafted the statues from clay. There are more than 200 bronze and granite sculptures in the park. One of the very popular statues in the area is the Sinnataggen or “Angry Boy”, which can be found along the Bridge, which connects the Main Gate and the Fountain.
4. Trondheim
The third largest municipality in Norway, the Trondheim like the Bryggen Wharf also has preserved buildings that tourists can visit. The town was actually a former seat of the King and the capital of Norway until the early 13th Century. It used to be also the Catholic Seat. The last archbishop Olav Engelbrektsson had to flee from the city when Protestantism was introduced in 1537. The famous Lewis Chessmen made of walrus ivory found in the Hebrides were believed to be carved in Trondheim.
Unfortunately, the city has experienced a lot of fires. One fire, what they call the Horneman Fire, led to complete reconstruction of the city. Trondheim is also home to the world’s largest sundial, the Trondheim Torg, which is very popular with tourists on a Norway holiday.
The Northern lights of Norway for a great holiday treat
Plan your holiday in Norway and you’ll never regret it.
Norway is a country with only 4.8 million people sporadically well distributed in its 386,000 square kilometer minus the mountains, forests, rivers, and lakes. It stretches from the Skagerrak in southern Denmark, passing through Arctic Circle all the way to northwards of Barents Sea and the Russian border.
Try looking at the magnificent Northern lights of Norway and you will be satisfied.
The aurora borealis, also known as the Northern lights, do not conform to a pattern nor perform on demand. These are the types that are either fleeting and faint or elongated and bright. In addition, northern lights can also be pink, white, blue or most commonly green. They appear as slithers of light stretching across the sky or curtains of color filling the darkness.
But what exactly are the northern lights. The aurora borealis, or northern lights appear when solar wind particles collide with air molecules in the earth’s atmosphere, transferring their energy into light. Displays can vary in intensity – from a glowing curtain of greenish yellow lights, dancing in the distance to a spectacular, multi-colored fusion stretching across the sky.
However, it must be remembered that sightings of the northern lights can never be guaranteed, even when the conditions seem just right – a clear cloudless night is essential and for the most intense sightings, it is important to be away from any sources of artificial light, such as street lighting. Sightings not only vary in intensity but in duration too, from just minutes to sometimes hours.
Now, where is the best place to view the northern light? Tourists may want to travel north and visit places such as Iceland, Lapland, Canada, and Greenland during the months of November to March for the best opportunities possible. Nature’s own light show can also be seen in October and March.
Two locations considered some of the best in the world to view the northern lights are cloud-free sky at Abisko Mountain Station, situated within the Abisko National Park in Swedish Lapland, and Hotel Ranga in south Iceland.
The Abisko Mountain Station is regarded as one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights because it has clear air and cloud-free sky. The Abisko Mountain Station is located Abisko National Park A natural occurrence in the behavior of the prevailing winds in the area means that cloud rarely forms, keeping the skies clear. This is also the ideal condition for viewing the aurora borealis.
Another location to see the northern lights is the Hotel Ranga. It is located in a wonderful rural location under the vast open skies of the beautiful south. This area has a superb uninterrupted 360° skies for miles around. However, the Of course the northern lights can never be guaranteed.
The best time to view the northern lights is anytime between November and February. They can, however, be seen as early as late August and as late as mid April. So try to schedule a holiday trip in Norway during these months.
Sleeping in Cabins or Camping site: a Norwegian way of Holiday
You might be interested how to spend the holiday in a very Norwegian way – a holiday composed of breathtaking scenic explorations and historical discoveries.
But there’s so much more with Norway style of holiday getaway.
The cabins and country cottages are very famous with Norwegian holiday makers as well as tourists. In Norwegian word, cabin is called hytte. These cabins are situated deep in the forest or by the sea. It’s all about nature and tranquility.
There are a number of different types of cabins available. There are many privately owned or managed cabins set in their unique surroundings dotted around the countryside. These types of cabins are the most luxurious. They even have their own sauna or swimming pool. Cabins and cottages by the side of the lake will often be a boat available to allow you to explore the shores or fish for your supper.
Several camp sites in Norway have cabins available to rent. These, however, vary from fully equipped or not. For fully equipped holiday homes, they have kitchens, shower, and toilet. The more basic camping cabins provide basic facilities having other amenities within a few yards or so.
Despite the cold temperature of Norway, it still has a lot to offer for holiday makers. Skiing and winter sports are the most popular activities in Norway. However, the summer temperatures often reach the 20’s for days on end. As such, a number of resorts are available to soak up the sun on quiet beaches. But the forest and mountains are never away from you.
If you a little concern about budget, do not worry for the country has many budgeted accommodations that can suit any type of holiday maker. Norway has everything from luxury hotels to small, family operated hostels. These hotels offer a very unique interior design of old wooden furniture and structure itself giving a very nice atmosphere and ambience.
The availability of accommodations and standards of hotels vary. While some are available for very short periods, others have a minimum of one week. Standards may be extremely simple to the very luxurious.
But while cabins, cottages, and hotels are available, camping in Norway is another popular activity. It has more than 1000 campgrounds classified with 1-5 stars depending on facilities.
You can sleep in a tent anywhere in forests or mountains except in cultivated fields for up to 48 hours, as long as your tent is no closer than 150 meters to the nearest house. However, it is forbidden to sleep overnight in your camper closer than 150 meters to the nearest house or cabin. Open fires are prohibited also in woods and fields from April 15-September 15. There are campgrounds with small cabins which vary from level of standard.
Norway has more than 1000 campgrounds that are classified with 1-5 stars depending on their standard and available facilities. Make sure that you’ll have enough money around NOK100 for the cost per day of camping costs NOK 80-150 plus person fee.
Norway is a year round destination during holiday. Aside from the two mentioned above, it has a lot to offer to everyone.
Parks to visit when on a Norway Holiday
Among the many tourist attractions in Norway, their parks in Oslo stand out, with its rich history and lush greeneries. One of the most famous, if not the most famous, is the Vigeland Park. With 80 acres of land, the park is the largest in the city. But this is not what makes the park so special. Spread across the huge park is more than 212 sculptures made of bronze and granite. All the sculptures were created by famous Norwegian artist and sculptor Gustav Vigeland, hence the name of the park.
Vigeland Park is divided into several different parts. The first section is the Main Gate, which is made of granite and wrought iron. There are two gate houses on the sides that have weather vanes on their copper colored roofs. The gate was built in 1926. The next section is the Bridge, which houses 58 of the sculptures in the park.
The bridge is about 100 meters long, connecting the park entrance to the Fountain. One of the notable sculptures in the Bridge is the Sinnataggen or “Angry Boy”. Before when the park was first offered for public viewing, the Bridge was the first section to be opened.
The next section is the Children’s Playground. It has a pond where visitors can watch ducks and geese frolic. Despite the name, this is actually not a playground for visitors but an area in the park where the sculptures depict children in various acts of playing. There are eight of them in the perimeter of the Playground. At the center, there lies a column with a fetus mounted on it.
The fountain is situated right after the bridge. Its centerpiece is, well, you guessed it “The Fountain” which was created originally for the Parliament. It is made of bronze with about 60 reliefs surrounding it. It depicts children and skeletons in the arms of big trees. This may seem morbid but Vigeland actually meant it as some sort of cycle: that death comes from a new life. Aside from the centerpiece, the ground where the fountain is, is inlaid with black and white granite.
The Monolith Plateau is the next section in the Vigeland Park. This section consists of a platform with a lot of stairs. It houses the Monolith totem where there are about 36 figures.
The Monolith, on the other hand, is the highest point in the entire park. Thus, it is the most popular. It is believed that the gigantic totem was made from giant piece of stone that Vigeland himself modeled out of clay. It reportedly took the Norwegian artist 10 months to finish the design of the totem. This is just the design process and not the actual sculpting process. It took about 12 years before a team of carvers were able to finish the design.
At the end of the park is the Wheel of Life, which is a wreath that has four people on it and a baby. The artwork symbolizes forever. In actuality, the whole park represents man’s journey, from child to old age, right to the grave.
Norway’s Christmas Holiday Tradition
In Norway, the night of December 13 is used to be called Lussinatten. It is celebrated in honor of Saint Lucy. She is a young girl who according to legend died a martyr in Sicily. This celebration is part of the Norwegian celebration of Christmas holiday.
St. Lucia’s Day is also celebrated in other countries like Sweden. Traditions of its celebration include processions led by a young Lucia in a white robe with a crown of lights on her head and a candle in her hand. Schools, day-care centers, nursing homes and hospitals feast on this day.
Among Norway’s other holidays, this is the longest night of the year and no work was to be done. This is because Norwegians believe that Lussi, a feared enchantress, punished anyone who dared work. From that night until Christmas, spirits, gnomes and trolls roamed the earth. Legend also says that farm animals talked to each other on Lussinatten. Thus, animals were given additional feed on this day.
This midwinter feast in Norway became a tradition. But the origin of this German tradition can be date back in the first half of the 1800s. Today the Christmas tree plays a central role in celebrating the Christmas holiday in Norway.
As such, trees, a spruce or a pine, is usually bought in town or chopped from one’s own forest. Traditionally, Christmas trees must be fresh and green and fragrant, with a good shape and thick branches. There are also outdoor Christmas trees put up on squares, parks and other places where people walk are lit the first Sunday in Advent. However, the Norwegian tradition is not to lit the Christmas tree until Christmas Eve.
Aside from this, several kinds of lights are sold during this holiday in Norway. Christmas has become traditionally a festival of lights and candle-making. It was one crucial preparation of Christmas. During the long preparation, concerts are held in churches and concert halls and Christmas carols are sung up and down the country.
Furthermore, Norwegian Santa Claus “Julenisse” is famous for his red stocking cap and long white beard. The nisse wears knee breeches, hand-knitted stockings, a Norwegian sweater, a homespun jacket, and a heavy fur coat for Norway is very cold in the winter.
At 5 p.m. on the eve of Christmas, all the churches begin to ring in Christmas. Then the family gathers for a holiday meal after going to Church. A porridge meal with an almond hidden in someone’s bowl is a popular menu. Rib roast with crackling is a very popular recipe used during this holiday.
Food traditions vary from one district to another. Coastal traditions are different from those found inland in the same way Eastern Norway’s traditions are different from those of Western Norway. Coastal districts and North Norway’s traditional Christmas dinner include lutefisk, cod or halibut. Eastern Norway’s are pork ribs, pork patties, Christmas sausage, and spiced cabbage.
Desserts range from cloudberry cream, crème caramel and creamed rice to fruit. Butter, sugar and cinnamon have to be put out for the nisse.
Know What to Expect in a Norway Holiday
Whenever one travels, it is always a good practice to know more about your destination beyond hotel information, tour times and activities. A lot of basic information about a country can be quite useful on your travels. Information like political stability, crime rates, currency exchange, average number of tourists and how friendly people actually are to tourists will give you a basic idea where to go and how to better prepare for your trip. And Norway is no exception. Knowing what to expect in a Norway holiday can help you plan for your trip.
As tourists, you would be glad to know that from the hundreds of thousands of tourists that visit Norway each year, most of them reported a trouble-free vacation. Regarding crimes, thefts have been reported in busy airports and railway stations especially in Oslo. It’s better, therefore, to keep valuables in safe locations and make sure that you have copies of identifications so you can get them renewed in your respective embassies or consular offices.
There are other reports of petty crimes being committed but the incidence is low compared to other European destination countries. As tourists, you should also keep in mind that laws against using illegal drugs and even drunk driving are strictly followed and enforced. So it would be best to take easy on the partying and drinking to avoid any inconveniences from possible brush-ins with local law enforcements.
Speaking of driving, Norway authorities recognize UK or other EU/EEA driving licenses. Be sure that you have some form of vehicle insurance before you even travel by road. If you’re going on a road trip in Norway, be prepared to traverse long roads that are often narrow and winding. The route will give you a fantastic view of the surroundings.
It is an adventure, no doubt about it but part of the journey is being safe. For tourists, it is not advisable to go driving around Norway during the winter especially if you’re not that familiar with the roads. Some roads suddenly become impassable during the winter season and it’s easy to get trapped or get into accidents.
One way to travel to and around Norway is via bus. If you travel by bus you’ll have to pass a through series of check points that can be a little inconvenient. If you come form the Baltic regions and Asian countries, Norwegian border patrols will scrutinize you more at the check points than Westerners. So keep your updated papers and documents ready to avoid any delay. If you come from other European countries, traveling to Norway is easy, fast and cheap due to a number of options available.
Around Norway, tours and travel agencies are well updated and well prepared to help tourists. Because the country is already an established tourist destination, the routes are well established and the facilities are better compared to other countries.
Aside from car rentals and public buses, going around Norway can be done through trains that traverse across the country sides. Another way of traveling is via express coaches which are cheaper but might take longer than expected. So if you pick traveling via coaches, make sure that you adjust your schedule.
If you know what to expect in a Norway holiday, you can maximize your stay in one place. You can better prioritize where to go and select the best and most suitable way of travel. Planning is as important as taking the vacation itself.
Holiday Opportunities in Norway
Are you planning your holiday destination? Why not go to Norway where you can enjoy an unusual privacy with such unpopulated Nordic country.
The country has only 4.8 million people sporadically well distributed in its 386,000 square kilometer minus the mountains, forests, rivers, and lakes. Ten percent of which is living in the capital Norway. It can surely offer a lot of holiday opportunities activities to spend a vacation. Stretching from the Skagerrak in southern Denmark, passing through Arctic Circle all the way to northwards of Barents Sea and the Russian border,
Norway is a composition of breathtaking scenery and historic towns and villages. One example of a frequented city in Norway is the historic Bergen. While you are planning your holiday, you might want to check out what Norway can offer you and read this article further.
Have you heard of the Vigeland Park? This is a popular attraction in Oslo, which by the way, is a city with several attractive outdoors and inhabited by friendly individuals.
Vigeland Park is a place to find almost 200 sculptures made by Gustav Vigeland. With Oslo’s cold temperature, walking in this park will relax your body and mind seeing various work of art.
Not only that, Oslo has a district consisting of built historical edifices. The Frogner district itself is full of fine museums and monuments. An example of a medieval age castle and fortress is the Akershus Slott & Festning. It was built in 1300 and reconstructed several times as a result of attacks over the centuries.
If you are going to Norway, you should not miss the city of Bergen. It is the gateway to the western fjords. Here you can see the Sognefjord, which is Norway’s deepest and longest fjord, around 1300 kilometer below sea level and 200 meters long.
You may also visit the magnificent Jostedalsbreen glacier and the stunning waterfalls at Geirangerfjord. If you are that adventurous, you might be interest with Trollveggen near Åndalsnes. It is a craggy summit considered to be the ultimate challenge by many Norwegian mountain climbers.
The third reason to spend a holiday in Norway is to experience the Oslo-Bergen railway. It is 291 mile train journey passing through magnificent mountain ranges and the exposed Hardanger plateau.
Another reason to visit Norway is the Tromse. It is the ‘Gateway to the Arctic’ with a scenic backdrop of snow-capped mountains. It has a lively town with street music, cultural events and a huge number of pubs. The town itself is worth visiting because of it has a few period buildings. The Tromsø Museum, on the other hand, is a best place to learn about the Lapp culture.
Now, how to travel around Norway is important information for you. In Norway, you can travel by air to get there, bus, rail, ferry, car, and cycling. There is also an extensive bus network with routes connecting almost every city and rural areas. Meanwhile, national rail system is limited but it is worth checking out their underground rail system and excellent tram service.
Now, plan your holiday trip to Norway and take down their special holidays. The Constitution Day celebrated every 17th of May and Midsummer’s Eve every 23rd of June are one of the most celebrated holidays in Norway.
Getting The Best Out Of A Norway Holiday
Norway is considered is the best place for people to live in. This is because of the beauty of the country would definitely entice any body to spend the rest of their days here. But, if you cannot afford to leave the place you are living in at the moment, the best way to spend time and enjoy the wonderful surrounding is through a Norway holiday.
Most seasoned travelers would agree that that best places for tourists—who have been here in Norway for the first time—are the cities including Trondheim, Tromsø, Bergen, and Stavanger. Here, you can find simple to plush accommodations. You can easily fit in these areas because there is easy access to almost everything including public transportation, entertainment, banks, hospitals, and other establishments that would cater to your needs while you are away from home.
The rest of the Norway is best for who have been there before because most of the areas are rural. If you don’t know somebody where you can stay at his or her house, you would not find an accommodation in these areas. If you plan to stay in rural areas, it would be best to go on camping. You can stay in camp sites or set up your own—depending of course on your skills and experience in camping. The best thing about camping is you can enjoy Norway’s lovely countryside life including its lakes and it mountains unlike in the bustling city.
To get the best out of your Norway holiday, try out rural activities and camping using various means of transportation. The best way to enjoy Norway is enjoying its natural wealth. And these you can experience when you go to rural areas. It doesn’t matter if you’re on foot, on horseback or on wheels, you can still discover the wonderful features of Norway during your holiday.
If you’re up on an adventure trail, you can simply follow a footpath or hiking trail along a river bank or you can follow tracks over flower-filled fields and meadows that lead to shaded woodlands. Through many ways of discovery, you can explore Norway’s gorges, sacred caves and clear waterfalls. Through a travel by train, you can have a magnificent view of the countryside that can lead to rural markets that offer local wines samples.
You can also participate in awesome events. Although famous for its amazing natural wonders, Norway is not just about nature, water sports and camping. It also features concerts, markets, cinema, festivals, floral displays and carnivals. Each region has its own long and varied tradition of special events that appeal to any targeted market or crowd.
During your stay in Norway, you can relish various sights and sounds of unique spectacles and events. The venues of these series of events are usually connected so you can participate in all of them. With easily accessible extensive public transport system, you can enjoy and participate in the unique events and celebrations held in various places here.
You can also enjoy a unique dining experience by trying various Norwegian specialties, traditional cooking as well as international gourmet menus during your Norway holiday.
A Wonderful Norway Holiday Vacation
Norway is a Nordic country in Europe. It is considered as the best place to live in because it has breathtaking natural wonders along with hospitable people, exciting array of activities to choose from and hundreds places to visit. More and more people choose to spend Norway holiday vacations because it embodies a place where everybody can relax in a wonderful environment with good food, friendly people, and unique culture.
If you are planning to spend a Norway holiday vacation, it is a must that you prepare first for the trip. The most basic thing that you can do is to introduce yourself to the place by knowing the basic things about it. You can do this by visiting various websites that offer information on Norway. These sites will give you an overview about the place, what to expect, how to get there, and a wide array of activities available for you.
By visiting various websites, you can also get travel discounts or cheaper airfare fees especially when you book for a much earlier date. Getting a low rate airfare to get you to Norway is ideal to help you save some money for the big holiday adventure.
Aside from browsing the Internet, you can also get important information and tips from travel magazines, which feature the place. In these feature stories and articles, you can get various opinions, comments, and observations about the place that can help you decide if you really can afford to spend your holiday in Norway or if everything will worth the trip.
Ensuring a wonderful trip.
Aside from being knowledgeable about the place, there are other things that you should consider to ensure that your trip would be a success. One of which is the cost of the whole trip. Knowing and calculating your costs and possible expenditures during Norway holiday vacation can greatly help you set a realistic budget during your stay.
Another advantage of knowing how much you will spend will also help your leave your worries behind because you have enough money to spend on something during the entire trip. If possible, always make sure that you leave an allowance or you allot at least 10 to 20 percent of the total of your budget to spend on emergency cases.
Expert travelers say that a trip to Norway can be expensive mainly because the standard of living is high. However, the most important expenses that you should expect from your from your holiday vacation is accommodation.
This very important in planning your budget because this is where you will stay once the busy day is finished. Many people make good accommodations a priority because this is their home when out of the house while others are not so much into good accommodations because they think that they should be getting as much exposure as they can get when they are in a vacation destination.
To ensure a wonderful Norway holiday, pay utmost attention to accommodations matters because this is where you will spend most of your time.
A One Of A Kind Adventure During Norway Holiday Vacation
People in cities—when given a vacation—usually crave for places that can offer them new experiences. If given a free time to getaway, most people would want to experience a new world where they can see sights they have never seen before, a new world where they can experience activities they have done before, and a new world where they can truly enjoy everything it can offer. All these and more could be experienced during a Norway holiday.
A new world of fun, excitement, relaxation and appreciating natures can be synonymous with Norway. A Nordic country in Europe, Norway has been hailed as the best place to live on Earth because it has a very small population and it has been endowed with natural wonders. The country has folksy, warm, and inviting style that welcomes all kinds of visitors. Located near Sweden, Finland and Russia, a holiday in Norway is a perfect getaway to those who are consumed by the toxicities in the cities and of modern life, in general.
Norway, with its capital city Oslo, has become one of most favorite places to visit by people hailing from different places and from different walks of life. This is because it offers conveniences and attractions that cannot be found in the city or in other modernized countries.
The major difference of a holiday in Norway is one can enjoy exciting activities back dropped with wonderful stretches of pristine mountain terrains. The exquisite and enchanting sights of nature are what draws hundreds of visitors yearly and is what brought many people back to relish the place.
Making the most out of the trip
Norway is a spectacular place from sunrise to sunset. It serves as a perfect playground for activities such as sailing, fishing, windsurfing, dolphin watching, horseback riding, shopping and golf, and other leisure activities. The country is not just a fantastic place at daytime but also at night time because it offers a night life that bursts with life through fine and fun dining, dancing, and music of your choice.
The most visited cities, aside from the capital Oslo, include Trondheim, Bergen, Tromsø and Stavanger. Whether you are in Eastern, Southern, Northern, or Central parts of Norway, you will find places and enjoy activities that will make the most out of your holiday vacation.
Aside from its wonderful fjords, what makes a holiday vacation in Norway great is that it is a premiere vacation spot where wilderness is in its natural state. However, climate should be a major consideration when going to Norway because there can be extreme temperatures.
It is best to go there from mid-June to mid-August where the climate is at its best. It is during these times where there is more accessible public transportation and accommodation is relatively cheaper. The moderate temperatures during these months also make it a perfect vacation spot for families, group of friends and college students looking for the ideal place to wind up during their holiday vacation.
To make the most out of your trip, it is a must to consider not only the weather or climate but also the list of activities that you plan to do or places that you look forward to visit.
An Enjoyable Norway Holiday Vacation
Many people love to have a Norway holiday because it is a perfect place to getaway from the busy and crowded streets of the city. Although it is considered as country at a crossroads, Norway houses peaceful lakes bordered by lush palm trees, the rolling wooded hills, delightful green landscapes, and the spectacular views of the glaciers.
Norway is also a perfect destination for people who would want to enjoy ultimate water sports experience and those who crave for tranquility. Boasting off with an exceptional environment, unique landscape, historic heritage and excellent modern tourist infrastructure, the Norway can offer its potential visitors a wide array of sporting, cultural and leisure activities to can satisfy the person’s desire for a fantastic holiday escapade.
Spending a perfect holiday
Being one of the most beautiful places in the world, spending a holiday in Norway would cost you much. People who have traveled in Norway would agree that spending three days to one week here would cost around 50,000 Norwegian krone (Nkr) to 100,000 Nk. This would include at least Nkr300 per day for a transport ticket to those who stay in camp sites and prepare their own food; Nkr400 a day for those who will stay in hostels where simple breakfast, lunch or dinner is served; and Nkr500 if you want to buy food and other items in a supermarket for a day.
To those who plan to stay at hotels where breakfasts, lunch or dinner is served buffet style, it would cost you around Nkr800 and if you are planning to eat outside the hotel, you can opt for moderately priced restaurants where you could spend at least Nkr700 per meal. If you want to have a taste of Norwegian night life, expect to pay at least Nkr1000 for alcoholic drinks and if you are planning to rent a car to go around the place, prepare at least Nkr1500.
To ensure an enjoyable Norway holiday, the major consideration should be looking for a comfortable accommodation. The best places for first time tourists in Norway would be the cities including Stavanger, Trondheim, Tromsø, and Bergen. This is because here, you can find various holiday accommodations that range from simple to sophisticated and from ultimate in elegance to traditional tavern. When it comes to accommodation, the various places in Norway are equivalently famous for its prominent properties. Whatever your choice of accommodation is, you can enjoy the place’s lovely lakes, majestic mountains, captivating countryside and its bustling city centers.
Once you have found a comfortable accommodation, you can now finalize your itinerary. It is quite ideal to plot your activities prior to going in Norway because this can maximize your time and your stay here. Based on sites on the Internet, you can already research what are the things that you can do here. Once you arrive, try to stick to that itinerary but also be open to other activities because you will never really know what to expect from the place once you get there.
An Interesting Norway Holiday
When you travel do you coop yourself in the hotel and wait for things to happen? Yes?! Personally, I never thought of staying in my hotel room during a trip as a good way to spend my holiday. If that’s what you are planning to do then you should have just grabbed the inflatable pool, set it up in your backyard and do the relaxing and unwinding there. Part of traveling is finding interesting places, finding adventure and enjoying the short time you have away from your stressful job. Finding an interesting Norway holiday is pretty easy. Norway is a great place to spend your vacation. There are a lot to see and a lot to experience.
Norway is a pretty good travel destination as compared to other countries. If you want snow capped mountains, picturesque lakes and forests, then Norway has a lot of those to show. The good thing about Norway is that since it is already an established tourist destination, the routes are also well established and a number of packages are being offered to travelers. Any concerns they have are addressed by scattered tourist help centers.
Since Norway has a lot to offer, let’s being with some of the more popular interesting places in the country. By now you should have figured out that Norway has a lot of unspoiled natural beauty. Among the top destinations are the Geirangerfjord and Lofoten.
Geirangerfjord is famous for, well its fjords. Fjords are long, narrow inlets that were created by glaciers. Norway’s fjords are pretty famous for their majestic views and natural wonders. You can get to see a number of waterfalls as famous as the fjords themselves like the Seven Sisters, the Bridal Veil, and the Suitor. Geirarangerfjord has been included in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites in recognition to its natural beauty and the importance of preserving the area for future generations to see.
Lofoten , on the other hand, is filled with a number of outdoor activities where tourists adults and children alike can enjoy. There’s the Lofotr Viking Museum which has a good collection of various relics from the Viking Age, which is another thing Norway is famous for. Lofoten also hosts the World Championship in Cod Fishing and other sports activities like hiking, biking and even golf.
Similarly, Lillehammer hosts a number of cultural, educational and outdoor activities for tourists including skiing. The place is less than 200 km from Oslo and is visited by millions of tourists every year. You might fee crowded but you can stay here a day or two just to see what the fuss is all about. It has the largest lake in Norway, lake Mjosa.
Aside from these places, you have a ton of other interesting things that you can do in Norway. Hiking for one is a personal favorite. You can enjoy the sceneries on your own pleasure and Norway’s great outdoor is way too different than what I’ve experienced before. Another personal favorite is biking. With the country’s natural wonders every kilometer you travel is worth it. Plus, most of the public transportations like cruise ships, ferries and even planes allow you to bring your bike on board.
And there are a lot more things to do and a lot more placed to go to. There’s just not enough space here to write about them all. An interesting Norway holiday? It’s totally possible.
A Norway Holiday, Enjoying Cultural Events and Festivities
Traveling to a country is amazing enough but finding the right time to enjoy the rich cultural heritage and various festivities that the country has to offer can make your vacation nearest to perfection. Enjoying cultural events and festivities in a Norway holiday should be the target of all tourists who are planning to visit the country. The land of the midnight sun has a rich history and culture to offer especially to those who are itching to experience the country’s flavor and to adventure seekers alike.
Getting to Norway is an easy enough feat. Wherever you might be coming from, chances are there will be commercial airplanes plying the route to the country either directly or through series of connecting flights. When you’re coming from Europe, there are more options available for the traveler. Trains and buses for example can take you to Norway. However, it would be best to adjust your schedules if you’re taking the latter since planes are obviously faster. Another option is going to the country via sea transport. The picturesque voyage over the vast ocean is a holiday in itself.
Arranging your travel schedule once you entered the country can be made easy by a lot of commercial tour agencies/guides. These guys can help you organize your trip depending on what kind of destination activities you want. You can drive in a rented car around the country or try exploring Norway via a train ride and enjoy the rolling hills, challenging mountain ranges and other picturesque views.
There are a lot of interesting destinations in Norway. But nothing is more interesting than to participate in local festivities. For example, the Oslo Jazz festival which happens in August is a good way place to enjoy what the country has to offer. Another local and interesting festival is the Rain Fest in Bergen. The event actually starts during the wet season and ends at the start of autumn. Another event is the Oslo Pride Festival which is also known as the Skeive dager held in June. This is a gay and lesbian event and celebrates their freedom from prejudice and of being ostracized years ago. A little warning though, the Pride Festival is not for the weak at heart and definitely not for people who are highly religious and very conservative. However, if you’re going to travel in other countries you might as well keep an open mind to cultural differences that fall beyond your own comfort zone.
If you are the artsy-fartsy kind of tourists, then the Bergen Art Festival is the place to go. The festivities are held every October and are quite a crowd drawer. Art here is combined with a burst of Norweigan culture. Many tourists and even locals alike eagerly await the October event to exhibit their art works. Nothing can get closer with immersing yourself to the country’s popular culture than this event. This is definitely a place to be during a Norway holiday and enjoying cultural events and festivities.
